10 gallon help

This is a discussion on 10 gallon help within the Beginner Freshwater Aquarium forums, part of the Freshwater Fish and Aquariums category; -->
My plan is to set up my 10 gallon tank using a dwarf gourami as a centerpiece fish of sorts. What else could go ...

My plan is to set up my 10 gallon tank using a dwarf gourami as a centerpiece fish of sorts. What else could go with one of these without any sorts of aggression...i was thinking a small school of something, either tetras or corys. Any ideas or input?

My plan is to set up my 10 gallon tank using a dwarf gourami as a centerpiece fish of sorts. What else could go with one of these without any sorts of aggression...i was thinking a small school of something, either tetras or corys. Any ideas or input?

This won't be easy. A 10g is small space and the dwarf gourami attains 3 inches so companion fish can't be small (like the dwarf rasbora) or they will get eaten. But suitably-sized fish will be too large as they need to be in groups (the medium-sized rasbora or danio or smaller peaceful barbs) and danio and barbs are active swimmers that need room to swim in groups. The medium rasbora might work, if you have lots of plants and do regular water changes, though I personally would prefer to see them in larger quarters as they do need a group.

A 20g long would be better with a pair (male/female only) of dwarf gourami, plus a shoal of 6-7 of the medium rasbora (Trigonostigma species, check the profiles). Or in the 10g, perhaps a single honey gourami which is a bit smaller, or a group (3-5) of the pygmy sparkling gourami and one of the dwarf rasbora (Boraras brigittae etc) species?

I really hesitate to suggest this or that fish to others because it is your tank and you should have fish that you like. But when you (or others) suggest something that may have problems, I feel it is only fair to point that out and hopefully prevent problems.

I suggested the Honey Gourami previously because it is similar to the Dwarf that you had mentioned, but a bit smaller and less aggressive so easier in a smaller tank. As for hardiness, if you read the profiles of these fish you will note that the dwarf gourami has issues that the honey does not. Pygmy sparkling gourami would be even better as far as the tank size goes, and easy to match up with other small fish for a nice display. But it won't look like your dwarf gourami idea.

I really hesitate to suggest this or that fish to others because it is your tank and you should have fish that you like. But when you (or others) suggest something that may have problems, I feel it is only fair to point that out and hopefully prevent problems.

I suggested the Honey Gourami previously because it is similar to the Dwarf that you had mentioned, but a bit smaller and less aggressive so easier in a smaller tank. As for hardiness, if you read the profiles of these fish you will note that the dwarf gourami has issues that the honey does not. Pygmy sparkling gourami would be even better as far as the tank size goes, and easy to match up with other small fish for a nice display. But it won't look like your dwarf gourami idea.

Byron.

+one for Honey gourami for reasons noted. Colisa Iliac are plauged by Irodovirus and or Mycobacterium and are a poor choice.